By Ademola Adekusibe
16th December 2025
A newly released biography of the late former President Muhammadu Buhari has alleged that some aides close to him attempted to manipulate the 2022 All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential primaries by forging presidential directives to install former Senate President Ahmad Lawan as the party’s consensus candidate.
The book, From Soldier to Statesman: The Legacy of Muhammadu Buhari, authored by Dr. Charles Omole, was unveiled on December 15, 2025, at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja, in an event attended by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other top government officials.
According to the biography, the alleged plot occurred on the eve of the APC presidential primary when counterfeit directives were reportedly issued in Buhari’s name to heads of key security agencies, including the then Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, the Director-General of the Department of State Services, and the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency. The forged instructions allegedly sought to deploy security operatives to ensure Lawan’s emergence as the party’s candidate.
The book states that Alkali Baba rejected the directive and, after consultations with other security chiefs, sought direct confirmation from Buhari. The former president reportedly denied issuing any such order, stressing that he had no preferred candidate and that the choice of leader should be left to Nigerians through a free and fair process.
According to the account, Buhari reacted with amusement when informed that celebrations had reportedly taken place in Lawan’s neighbourhood based on the false claim of presidential endorsement. He was quoted as insisting that security agencies must remain neutral and must not interfere in the political process.
The biography presents the incident as an illustration of Buhari’s refusal to use state power to influence party politics. It also documents other internal tensions during his presidency, including the 2018 removal of former DSS Director-General Lawal Daura and a reported security incident involving members of the presidential family within the Villa.
